New study by Eva Sapi & co shows Stevia extract kills spirochetes,persisters better than antibiotics

There were some rumors a few weeks ago...

A very promising research paper that was just published (Nov 12) in a peer-reviewed journal, by Dr. Eva Sapi & co, shows Stevia extract kills spirochetes and persisters of Borrelia and disrupts biofilm formation. The authors claim the extract has similar effectiveness as the 3 best antibiotics combined - the ones that were recently showed to eradicate Borrelia (Daptomycin, doxycycline, cefoperazone).


"
In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of whole leaf Stevia extract against B. burgdorferi spirochetes, persisters, and biofilm forms in vitro. The susceptibility of the different forms was evaluated by various quantitative techniques in addition to different microscopy methods. The effectiveness of Stevia was compared to doxycycline, cefoperazone, daptomycin, and their combinations. Our results demonstrated that Stevia had significant effect in eliminating B. burgdorferi spirochetes and persisters. Subculture experiments with Stevia and antibiotics treated cells were established for 7 and 14 days yielding, no and 10% viable cells, respectively compared to the above-mentioned antibiotics and antibiotic combination. When Stevia and the three antibiotics were tested against attached biofilms, Stevia significantly reduced B. burgdorferi forms. Results from this study suggest that a natural product such as Stevia leaf extract could be considered as an effective agent against B. burgdorferi."

dx.doi.org/10.1556/1886.2015.00031

More research is needed to show exactly what compounds from the Stevia extract are doing this (and if they cross the BBB, etc...). Please note the authors used 4 commercially available extracts and only one of them was potent enough to achieve this. For the sake of not turning this into just sales for that company, the authors have not disclosed the name of the brand (they just called it Stevia A).

Post Edited (mpost) : 2/6/2016 5:31:00 AM (GMT-7)

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. I love reading about stuff like this.

Thanks for posting. I think the big question besides what brand was potent enough to kill all the forms is how much one would need to take to kill it off. I remember the Claritin derivative study showed effectiveness as well but you needed something like 40 tabs per day to achieve the proper blood level for effectiveness.

I feel like everything kills the bacteria in vitro, but none of them ever work in vivo tbh

Really it doesn't seem like it could do any harm to use a little Stevia in the event that it MAY help. I cut out everything sweet so it would be a great treat for me!

I feel like the abx combo that has been in the news and compared against Stevia is pretty legit. I read that Horowitz spoke about it at the recent conference and said it is having very promising results. Just wish it wasn't 2 IV abx with Doxy.

Hey Traveler!-

What type or name brand of Stevia do you use? Do you just get at the grocery store or do you have to go to health food store? Does Stevia taste like sugar or does it sometimes have a different aftertaste?

Thanks for any information!

Thanks for the information Traveler!

Maybe I will try a small bag first to see how it goes and taste! :)

Little Bear has been in the mood for something sweet! He hehe!

They are careful to not reveal the brand name, only that Stevia "A" was the one that was most effective. But can I vote for NOW brand, since that's the one I use?

Can I ask what the ingredients are? Do they add other sweeteners in as well?

Trav- No other ingredients except Fibersol which wouldn't add to the sweetness.

Stevia is super popular here. Just check for fillers and additives. Most stevia products have those.

I've just ordered some Stevia extract. Starting tomorrow, sweet tea for me

What i do hope is at least in the gut (where the extract will be in highest concentration) they will have a hard time surviving. I too am a bit pessimistic about using this as a systemic antibiotic. We still know very little: what is the chemical that does this, what is its MIC, does it cross the BBB, how fast does the liver/kidney remove it, etc...

I'll keep an eye on the research journals and if i spot something new about this, or anything else related, will let you guys know.

My MIL had left some stevia packets here so I opened one & dumped it in my coffee this a.m.--ptwooeey ptwooeey-as in yuck, artificial taste-both my spouse & I did not like! I think I will have to wait for the medically proven & processed before I use (or grow a plant & gnaw on its leaves).

Although approved by the mighty FDA (perhaps rushed to production by the CocaCola co), there are questions as to whether enough studies were indeed conducted. (A red flag for me is that pregnant women are told not to consume this herb-?).

And yes, analysis/paralysis again here, but authors of this study below noted that in some test tube and animal studies, stevioside caused genetic mutations, chromosome damage and DNA breakage:

http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/stevia-report_final-8-14-08.pdf

And unless you are growing your own stevia leaf, all seem to go through a processing that may be of concern and most from China. Some side by side analysis here:

https://healthesolutions.com/kal-brand-pure-stevia-extract-powder-made-in-china-includes-maltodextrin/